The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce is offering daily updates to area businesses trying to navigate the recently enacted CARES stimulus package.

Cindy Frey, president of the chamber, said the chamber began two weeks ago to have the daily webinars with Jon Myers, business advisor with Indiana Small Business Development Center.

During times of crisis, the center acts as an arm of the small business administration.

Frey said the most popular program for local small businesses has been the Paycheck Protection Program which lets businesses borrow from a bank to make payroll and other liabilities for up to four months.

The business has to agree to keep their employees on the payroll, and if they do the loan is forgivable.

You can get more information or sign up for the 9 a.m. sessions on the chamber website at columbusareachamber.com.

The Indiana State Department of Health  reports this morning that Bartholomew County has 83 positive COVID-19 test results, with 107 in Decatur, 45 in Jennings, 53 in Jackson, 9 in Brown, 248 in Johnson and 61 in Shelby counties.

Bartholomew County has not had any more deaths from the disease, with four so far and Decatur County is holding steady with six. Brown County has had only a single death. Shelby County added a single death, for two total and there have been 11 in Johnson County, an increase of three. Neither Jackson nor Jennings county has had a death from the disease.

The state is reporting 6,351 positive test results for COVID-19 in the state and 245 deaths as of this morning’s update.

A Bartholomew County Jail inmate and a correctional officer have tested positive for COVID-19. Sheriff Matt Myers says that neither have shown signs of sickness and both are being closely monitored in quarantine.

The inmate who tested positive has only been around one other inmate. And while the second inmate, has tested negative for the virus they have also been placed in quarantine as a proactive safety measure.

The corrections officer is a transport driver and it is believed the officer contracted the disease from the inmate.

Columbus Regional Health says the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is still likely weeks away in our community.

Kelsey DeClue, spokeswoman for Columbus Regional Health explains in  the most recent video from the local COVID-19 task force that the surge likely won’t hit here until late April or early May.  CRH has been preparing for weeks for the incoming patients.

DeClue stressed the importance of doing what you can to reduce that surge.

DeClue stressed the importance of reducing that surge of patients by keeping up with social and physical distancing and just staying at home.

You can watch the entire video featuring DeClue and Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop below.

The number of deaths from COVID-19 remain unchanged in Bartholomew County and most surrounding counties, while the number of cases continue to climb.

According to the Indiana State Department of Health, Bartholomew County has had four deaths from the disease, unchanged from Tuesday morning’s update. Johnson has had 8 deaths, an increase of 1, and Shelby County has its first death. Decatur and Brown counties remain unchanged, with 6 in Decatur and 1 death in Brown.  There have been no deaths in Jackson or Jennings counties.

Statewide there are 5,943 positive results and have been 203 deaths, an increase of 33 since Tuesday morning’s tally.

There are 66 confirmed cases in Bartholomew County, an increase of 11 confirmed since yesterday. According to the county health department, there have been 666 total tests of county residents, of which 460 have been negative and 85 are still pending.

Decatur County has 99 cases, Jennings 42, Jackson 46, Brown 9, Johnson 230 and Shelby County 56.

Marion County leads the state with 58 deaths and 2,290 cases.

Lincoln Central Neighborhood Family Center and YES Cinema are selling yard signs to show your support local health care workers and to provide financial support to the shuttered theater and its workers.

The loss of revenue including ticket and concession sales, on-screen advertising and special events is putting the downtown Columbus theater in a precarious position, according to supporters. 18 part-time workers are also without incomes during the mandated closure.

The yard signs are $15 and feature a big heart with Thank You and #columbuscares to show support for health care workers. Proceeds will support the theater and its employees. You can order the signs to be delivered to your home at  www.lcnfc.org/columbuscares/

Local emergency workers are having to make changes to protect themselves and the public from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers explains that deputies are getting more information before they show up for a call so they can make judgments on whether to wear protective gear.

Myers said that he expects all deputies and firefighters in the county to begin wearing protective equipment on every call, but right now that is a matter of having enough supplies.

Myers explains that jail staff have new procedures in place to protect themselves and inmates.

Last week, Capt. Mike Wilson with the Columbus Fire Department said that city firefighters and CRH paramedics were making changes to their procedures. Firefighters usually run on all paramedic calls and frequently arrive first on the scene.

Wilson said firefighters are now waiting for an ambulance to arrive and quickly assess the scene of non-life-threatening calls.

On Tuesday, Bartholomew County Commissioners approved a retroactive claim for the purchase of 20,000 of the in-demand N95 respirator masks by the sheriff. The plan is to split the masks between county and city emergency personnel and eventually to split the cost, said Commissioners President Carl Lienhoop. The first half of the purchase was paid for on a county credit card by the sheriff at a cost of just over $52,000 dollars with the second half of the purchase due on delivery.

Commissioners approved the expenditure.

There have now been four deaths from COVID-19 in Bartholomew County. The Indiana State Department of Health morning update also reports 6 deaths in Decatur County, 1 death in Brown County and 7 deaths in Johnson County.

The state is reporting 5,507 positive test results for COVID-19 in the state and 173 deaths as of this morning’s update.

Bartholomew County has 55 positive test results, with 90 in Decatur, 41 in Jennings, 40 in Jackson, 8 in Brown, 212 in Johnson and 41 in Shelby counties.

Marion County has the highest numbers in the state with 2141 confirmed cases and 48 deaths.

There have been 28,764 tests reported to the health department.

Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County announced last week that it is helping a United Way project that is in turn helping those in need in our community.

Kristin Munn, director of development for Heritage Fund, says local not-for-profit groups are facing challenges as they try to help the community weather the shutdowns and layoffs.

For example, groups can’t hold the big events that they use as major fundraisers. Heritage Fund is encouraging you to donate to the United Way’s COVID-19 Relief Fund.

The fund has already raised $300,000 in the community and that money is going directly to charities assisting those in our community who are struggling. .

The Heritage Fund points out that under the CARES stimulus act, there is a universal charitable deduction component. Any taxpayer may make a donation of up to $300 and deduct it from their taxable income for this year

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers says that now is not the time to be backing away from social distancing and staying at home as much as you can. The sheriff said that local, state and national officials agree that the next few weeks will be critical for containing the spread of the COVID-19 disease.

Overall, the sheriff said Bartholomew County residents have been very good about following the governor’s order. Deputies have been called out for flagrant violations of the state and local orders, he said.

The sheriff has been very active on social media urging compliance with the orders. He said his goal is to remind people that we all play a role in containing this virus.